The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1887-01-20
r,.,xr1Nt-FD FROM FIRST PACE.


lutely impossible for him to ABANDON
the hope that he might live till the DAY
of his vindication should come. He
said that his downfall would involve
others whose happiness and honor Out
weighed with him the love OF lie
Reporter How did he appear to
feel about his family?
DIR. Hatcher He never Droached
the subject of death, or rarely, at least
without saying that he lamented his
fate far more on account of others than
on his own. The day Governor Lee
refused to modify the death-sentence l
went to see him. said "Well, 1t IS
bad. and ! am very sorry for you.
eyes, " said he, " it is bad, and | am
sorry too-sorry for myself, but far
more for others whose hearts Will be
broken by the result" Much has been
said about the fidelity and devotion OF
his kindred, but nothing touched me
50 much as his brooding solicitude tor
his mother and his aunt. He dreaded
the effects of his death upon them
more than for himself. He SAID that
for sometime his mind had been at rest
50 far as the future was concerned.
ON COMPUTATION.
Reporter: Do you think that he
ought to have been executed!
DIR. Hatcher: That question Is
bevond the compass of this interview
and I suppose the public would care
little for my opinion. You are aware
that this case has not only awakened
almost universal interest, but ma:
divided the people into variant anc
conflicting classes. 1t has seemed te
me that he public has been broken III
into three distinct divisions-tht
believers in his guilt, the believers II
his innocence, and those who were
left in honest doubt. The doubter
were very numerous, and in that clas
were many of the most thoughtful
conservative, and discriminating PEG
ole. The pardoning of the prlsone
would have seriously offended tn
believers in his guilt and would no
have been satisfactory to those Il
doubt. His execution shocked tn
believers in his innocence and CAV
great pain to the doubtful. The com
mutation of his sentence, THINK
would have satisfied in large measur
all classes, except the very extrem
believers either in his innocence or
his guilt. If he had been imprlsone
for life the act would have given hi
the benefit of a doubt which hi
existed from the first, which has grow
steadily since his conviction, an
which must be immensely strengthens
by his dying protestatlon OF Inn
Cence.
Reporter: Do you mean to mp
that YOU do not believe in capt.
punishment
DIR. Hatcher: BY no means.
LAST HOURS:
Reporter: We are very anxious,
course, Doctor, to learn from you t
particulars of his last hours.
DR.. Hatcher: You must not expe
me, of course, to give youany tragic
or sensational statements. Indeed,
is painful to dwell upon an event
mournful and narrowing to me tina
would gladly forget it.
Reporter: Do you mean to say II
YOUR last hours with Cluverius w
very distressing2
DR.. Hatcher: To me they we
because it was such an intolera
strain upon my sympathies. He,
course, was very sad, and the
hours which l spent with him Def
his death were among the most try
of my life.
NOT A WORD OF CONFESSION.
Reporter: Did he make any c
fession or give any hint of it?
DR.. Hatcher: Not one word,
nothing occurred which suggested
me that he was struggling to k
back any secret. When the n
came that the Governor would
interfere was left alone with hin
the cell, and as soon as the door
shut we knelt IN prayer. He d
calmly and talked freely as to his
told him that all earthly hope
dead, and that death was at hand.
told him that was the last mon
when we could be together alone,
If there was anything that he had
say there must be no delay. He
that there was nothing. He had n
his statement and no had motive
changing it.
Reporter: Did he talk about his
ligiOus prospects,
DR.. Hatcher: Yes, but | Cal
1ecite the conversation in detail.
or three things he said, and as
came unsolicited you can have Il
He said that the Bible had been
him a great comfort, and that
would certainly have broken d
but for its promises. He said: "Do'
want to say to you that my trus
the future is in Jesus Christ, an
have no fear beyond DEATH" n
said anything to him to make
believe that he was Christian,
when he said this felt constraine
tell him tina. il in his heart he
tr,,ly and nenitenfiv truSt in the Sa